PRINCE
HALL ORIGINAL CHARTER

WARRANT OF AFRICAN LODGE NO. 459

Warrant
of Constitution, A.G.M.

To
All and Every:

Our
Right Worshipful and Loving Brethren: Thomas Howard, Earl of Effington, Lord Howard, etc.,
Acting Grand Master, under the authority of his royal Highness, Henry Frederick, Duke of
Cumberland, etc., Grand Master of the Most Ancient and Honorable Society of Free and
Accepted Masons, send greeting.

Know ye that we, at the humble petition of our Right Trusty and
well beloved brethren, Prince Hall, Boston Smith, Thomas Sanderson, and several other
brethren residing in Boston, New England, North America, do hereby constitute the said
brethren into a regular Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, under the title or denomination
of the African Lodge, to be opened in Boston, aforesaid, and do further, at their said
petition and of the great trust and confidence reposed in every of the said above-named
brethren, hereby appoint the Prince Hall to be Master; Boston Smith, Senior Warden and
Thomas Sanderson, Junior Warden, for the opening of the said Lodge, and for such further
time only as shall be thought by the brethren thereof, it being our will that this our
appointment of the above said officers, shall in affect any further election said Lodge,
but that such election shall be regulated agreeable to such By-Laws of the said Lodge as
shall be consistent with the Grand Law of the society contained in the Book of
Constitutions: and we hereby will, and require of you the said Prince Hall, to take
special care that all and every the said brethren are to have been regularly made Masons,
and that they do observe, perform, and keep all the rules and orders contained in the Book
of Constitutions; and, further, that you do from time to time cause to be entered, in a
book kept for that purpose, an account of your proceedings in the Lodge, together with all
such Rules, orders and Regulations as shall be made for the good government of same, that
in no wise you omit once in every year to send us, or our Successors, Grand Masters, or
Rowland Holt, Esq., our Deputy Grand Master, for the time being, and account of your
proceedings, and copies of all such Rules, Orders and Regulations as shall be made
aforesaid together with the list of the members of the Lodge, and reasonably be expected
toward the Grand Charity.

Moreover,
we will, and require of you, the said Prince Hall, as soon as conveniently may be, to send
an account in writing of what may be done by virtue of these presents.

(SEAL
)

Given
at London, under our hand and seal of Masonry, 29th day of September, A.L. 5784, A.D.
1784, by the Grand Master's command R. Holt, Deputy Grand Master.